Area of Invention
Materials technology and manufacturing processes

Description of Invention
Environmentally controlled induction heating system in which chemically active metals can be safely heated to elevated temperatures

Technology Synopsis
An environmentally controlled heating system for heating metal alloy billets wherein a trolley system carries the billets through the chambers of the induction heating system in crucibles that are pushed or pulled by actuators. The billets enter the system through a load-chamber and travel through a main chamber to a heating area where the loaded crucibles pass through a series of induction heating coils. The heated billets leave the heating area through a dump-chamber where they are delivered to a forming system. The empty crucibles reenter the main chamber and travel back to the loading area to receive another billet. The heating system is controlled through a computing device for monitoring and controlling the system, preferably a programmable logic controller. A vacuum system evacuates air from the chambers and an inert gas system back-fills the chambers with an inert gas. A gettering system continually cleans the inert gas. Vacuum gates around the load and dump chambers isolate the induction heating system from ambient air and allow for air evacuation and back-filling of the load and dump chambers with the inert gas whenever a billet enters or leaves the induction heating system.

Patent Protection
U.S. Patent 6,289,033, Environmentally Controlled Induction Heating System for Heat Treating Metal Billets

Potential Commercial Applications
Provides basis for protecting reactive metals during heating for further processing or heat treatment.

Status of Invention
Technology has been demonstrated at CTC. Licensee would have access to the technical capabilities of CTC, on a fee basis, including materials and processing, process modeling, and process design expertise.